French train manufacturer Alstom has launched the lifecycle tests for its advanced concrete slab track technology in Russian Railways’ facility in Sherbinka near Moscow.
Under this project, Alstom will carry out the assessment of various slab tracks and their testing in local conditions with an intention to use this technology on the very high-speed lines later.
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Using this NBT technology, Alstom, Roszheldorproekt design institute, Vossloh, Pandrol/Railtech and Lafarge Russia has built a 125m-long slab track section.
This track section also includes two transition zones of 25m each.
The NBT technology offers a mechanised construction method, along with high availability and compatibility with mixed traffic operation, passenger and freight.
Alstom Transport CIS region senior vice-president Thibault Desteract said: "The infrastructural solution we offer in Sherbinka can be an important contribution to the future modernisation of the railway network in Russia, not only for high-speed and very high-speed lines, but also for urban transport.
"Our NBT technology used in this project has already been proven effective, thanks to a 1km double-track section on the Gisors-Serqueux main line in France, in operation since December 2013."
Russian Railway’s VNIIZhT research centre will run a loaded train along the section at 80km/h as part of the testing.
Following that, stable and available slab track solutions will be proposed for the next testing phase on a longer section at high and very high speeds, Alstom said.
The tracks are expected to carry up to 600 million tonnes by 2016.
Image: Compared to the standard ballast tracks, slab track offers reduced lifecycle cost of the track. Photo: courtesy of Alstom.
